New Year, New You!

The UT Health Tyler Bariatric Center

Start the new year off right by focusing on improving your health. Bariatric surgery is the most effective approach to weight loss. It can drastically improve most, if not all obesity-related health problems. However, it should not be considered an easy way out or quick solution.

Reasons to consider bariatric surgery:

• You’ve tried more conservative methods for controlling weight, such as diet, exercise and medication, with limited or no success
• You want to avoid the very serious health problems and risks that result from morbid obesity

Benefits

The benefits of bariatric surgery go beyond just weight loss. Not only will you lose weight, but other health problems will be improved or even resolved.

One of the greatest benefits is the impact on type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is a serious condition that can lead to other health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, kidney disease, nerve problems and more. Bariatric surgery procedures can help improve diabetes, even before any weight is lost. For many people, their diabetes goes into remission following surgery. It’s not uncommon for a person to have surgery and see improvement of their diabetes within just a few days.

Other health problems also can be improved or resolved, including hypertension, sleep apnea, acid reflux and high cholesterol.

Procedures

The UT Health Tyler Bariatric Center offers several surgery options done by our board-certified and fellowship-trained surgeons. Our team will work with you to develop a care plan that best fits your needs. Most procedures are minimally invasive and can also be done robotically.

• Sleeve gastrectomy
• Gastric bypass
• Duodenal switch
• Lap-Band® placement, management and removal
• Revisions of previous bariatric operations
• Conversion of Lap-Band® to sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass
• Conversion of sleeve gastrectomy to duodenal switch or gastric bypass
• Panniculectomy (removal of excess abdominal skin following weight loss)

Next Steps

If you’re interested in learning more, visit TylerBariatrics.com. There you’ll find more information about the benefits, procedure options, qualifications, our providers and more. You can also watch our free online seminar. This video gives an introduction to bariatric surgery and features both of our surgeons, Dr. Hugh Babineau and Dr. Charles Keith.

You can also read through real patient stories, blog posts and watch additional video interviews from our doctors, and follow us on Facebook.

If you’d like to schedule an appointment or talk to someone at the clinic, you can call 903-593-0230 or fill out the contact form here.

How to set and achieve goals

This time of year brings many new opportunities. Venturing outside of your comfort zone to create new goals could be something you are ready to take on. If so, there are five steps commonly known as the SMART process to help you get started on the path to success. As you determine what you want to accomplish in 2021, ask yourself these questions:

1. Is my goal specific? Your goal should be clearly defined, leaving no room for ambiguity. The narrower your goal, the more you’ll understand the steps necessary to achieve it.
2. Is my goal measureable? Include precise amounts and dates when drafting your goal. The more details, the better. This will give you the opportunity to re-evaluate and course correct, as needed.
3. Is my goal attainable? Before you begin working toward a goal, decide whether it’s something you can achieve now or whether there are additional preliminary steps you should take to become better prepared.
4. Is my goal relevant? Your goals should align with your values and larger, long-term goals. If a goal doesn’t contribute toward your broader objectives, you may want to reconsider it.
5. Is my goal timely? Setting a time period for your goals will help you prioritize and provide motivation to keep you on track.

Here are some examples of goals that follow this process:

• My goal is to walk one mile, four times a week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday for three months.
• My goal is to read six books that I have not read before Dec. 31.
• My goal is to workout at home for 30 minutes, three times a week on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for six months.
• My goal is to cook 12 new recipes with a family member or friend via FaceTime, Zoom or another platform.

Let us know what your goals are by adding the hashtag #NewYearNewYou to your New Year’s resolutions on social media.

Some of the most common New Year’s resolutions include exercising more, eating healthier, losing weight, saving money and quitting smoking. Self-care and mental health goals are also great to include, such as reducing stress, starting a new hobby, learning a new skill, getting more quality sleep or focusing on personal growth.

Many things have changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so think out of the box when working towards achieving you goals. For example, if your gym is closed or you do not feel comfortable attending, try exercising at home or outdoors. There are many health benefits to being outdoors, so if the weather allows work on your goals outdoors.

The main thing is to stick with it. If you hit a bump in the road, don’t quit! This is normal. Get back on course and step by step you will reach your goals.

Information provided by Nudukwe Uduma, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist at UT Health North Campus Tyler. For more information about behavioral health services, visit uthealtheasttexasdoctors.com/services/psychiatry-and-psychology or call 903-877-7000 to schedule an appointment.

Why it is important to have an annual check-up

Karen Wies, MD

There was a time when people only went to the doctor when they were sick. Today, we now know that preventive healthcare is the key to living a longer, healthier life.

It is important for people to get regular check-ups so they can identify potential health issues before they become a problem. By seeing a physician annually, they are more likely to detect issues earlier. It is important to know that due to constant medical research and advancements in healthcare, we are capable of treating an increasing number of conditions with far greater success than at any other time in human history. This is why early detection of conditions is so important for our patients. UT Health East Texas Physicians are eager to diagnose problems as early as possible and to treat our patient’s quickly, safely and efficiently while avoiding complications. Our goal is to keep you healthy for many years to come.

Benefits of annual check-ups:

• Reduce chances of major illness.
• Increase chances for treatment.
• Closely monitor existing conditions and limit risk of complications.
• Form a good partnership with your physician.
• Reduce healthcare costs over time by avoiding costly medical services.
• Increase lifespan and improve health.

Preventive health screenings for adults:

• Annual well-visit
  • Physical exam
  • Blood pressure
  • Preventive screening (s)
  • Family history
  • Body mass index (BMI)
  • Counseling
• Cancer screenings as recommended
  • Colorectal
  • Skin
  • Cervical (women)
  • Breast (women)
• Sensory screenings
  • Hearing (when necessary)
  • Eyesight
• Immunizations
  • Influenza
  • Tetanus, Diptheria (Tdap)
  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
  • Pneumociccal
  • Meningococcal
  • Shingles
  • Varicella
  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Human papillomavirus (HPV)
  • Haemophilus influenza Type B

  Take control of your health and schedule your annual check-up with a trusted UT Health East Texas physician. We offer a variety of services to care for the whole family. To schedule an appointment call 903-596-DOCS or visit UTHealthEastTexasDoctors.com

UT Health East Texas Cosmetic Surgery Center

The UT Health East Texas Cosmetic Surgery Center offers innovative procedures in cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. The primary goal is to provide East Texas and beyond with safe, effective and affordable plastic surgery.

Cosmetic and reconstructive surgery is about more than just physical appearance. There are many reasons why patients choose to have cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. These procedures help patients to feel better in their own skin, whether you're looking to enhance your features or reconstruct them after trauma or even cancer.

Our skilled and experienced providers, Dr. Paul Critelli and Dr. Christopher Perro offer patients the latest cosmetic and reconstructive procedures to cover any patients' needs.

Dr. Critelli is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and has eight years of surgical training and three years of fellowship training in plastic surgery. He performs both cosmetic and reconstructive procedures of the face and body, as well as many minimally invasive procedures. To learn more about the procedures Dr. Critelli offers, click here.

Dr. Christopher Perro is board-certified in facial plastic surgery and sees patients for cosmetic and reconstructive procedures of the face, eyelid and neck. He also offers minimally invasive and non-surgical procedures, such as Botox and fillers. To learn more about the procedures Dr. Perro offers, click here.

Eating Healthy in the New Year

New Year’s resolutions offer an opportunity to reassess what areas of your life could use a change. For many, this includes eating healthier or losing weight. While good-intentioned, our approach to dieting often leaves us feeling restricted, and we lose motivation within a few weeks.

So how can we set goals that actually stick? Clinical dietitian, Allie Redding, RD, LD, discusses the best way to accomplish your nutrition goals in 2021.

Click to learn more

About the Author

Allie Redding, RD, LD, is a registered and licensed dietitian at UT Health East Texas Rehabilitation Center. Allie’s day job includes educating cardiac rehabilitation patients about a heart-healthy diet and empowering them to make better lifestyle choices through the Pritikin ICR program. She also plans meals for patients in the UT Health Rehabilitation Hospital.

Starting an Exercise Routine

Starting a new workout regimen can be a daunting task. Often the hardest part is just getting started. But we’re here to help!

Tune in to hear Gina Baxter, operations manager at the UT Health East Texas Olympic Center in Tyler, discuss how you can pick and stick to a new workout routine.

Topic: Starting a new exercise routine

Speaker: Gina Baxter

Location: UT Health East Texas Facebook Live

Date & Time: Thursday, Jan. 21, Noon

About UT Health East Texas Olympic Center

Our nine locations across the region offer access to state-of-the-art equipment, indoor pools, group fitness classes and exercise programs in a safe, medically-supervised environment. To learn more about the services offered and find a location near you, click here.